U.S. President George W. Bush speaks during ceremonies at Margraten American Cemetery Sunday, May 8, 2005
Posted on 05/08/2005 6:14:24 AM PDT by nuconvert
Bush Marks 60th V-E Day in Europe
Sunday, May 08, 2005
MAASTRICHT, The Netherlands — As a chilly rain soaked thousands of white crosses marking American war dead, President Bush (search) paid homage Sunday to the "terrible price" paid by World War II (search) soldiers who never came home from their fight against tyranny.
"On this peaceful May morning, we commemorate a great victory for liberty," Bush said at Europe's third-largest cemetery for American veterans near here in Margraten. "We come to this ground to remember the cause for which these soldiers fought and triumphed"
Bush marked the 60th anniversary of the May 1945 signing of the Berlin armistice that ended the war in Europe in a solemn remembrance at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, where 8,301 U.S. veterans are buried.
Before his brief, 13-minute remarks, members of the White House (search) delegation donned orange plastic raincoats against the cold and drizzle as Bush and Queen Beatrix (search) of the Netherlands laid wreaths of tribute, a bugler played taps and military aircraft streaked above the graveyard's sweeping arcs of headstones. First lady Laura Bush laid flowers at the grave of a Medal of Honor winner who was in the 104th Division, in which her late father served during the war.
"Our debt of gratitude is too great to express in words," Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said of the American liberation of the Netherlands from the Nazis. "They gave us the most precious gift — freedom. Today, I salute them."
From the ceremony, Bush flew to Moscow where he and dozens of other world leaders are continuing the V-E Day celebrations at a Red Square military parade that Russian President Vladimir Putin is staging on Monday, the day regarded there as the anniversary.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
U.S. President George W. Bush speaks during ceremonies at Margraten American Cemetery Sunday, May 8, 2005
I've looked for coverage of this on the news this AM and have found nothing.
President George W. Bush stands at attention as he participates in a wreath laying ceremony at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, the Netherlands May 8, 2005. The cemetery contains the remains of more than 8,000 United States military casualties from World War II. (Jim Bourg/Reuters)
Thanks for the pics
Thank you.
The news this week has been too busy to report this because they have been "reporting" that Bush was angering the Russians, etc., by his blunt talk about democracy. To the news people, the saying is true - Behind every silver lining, there's a dark cloud.
Teensy, weensy coverage. Blink, and you missed it.
Today's America. So sad.
Thanks for the pix.
Great post, n!
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